This may be an unpopular subject, but I am sick of 'Coronation' iris. Before I go off on a mild rant, I want to start off by saying that what makes it so popular and a "good old iris" is exactly what makes me sick of it. BECAUSE it's a good old iris, a reliable and prolific bloomer that increases readily, and easy to grow, and a bright sunny yellow, everyone and their dog has it around here. I started off liking it, and indeed, I do have some of it myself. BUT in some places, it's ALL you see! It is literally EVERYWHERE. And because it's so blinkin' prolific, I have to constantly divide and thin it out before it takes over a whole bed. It's almost like the dandelion of irises. I did like it at first and I try to keep it in one area of only antique irises. But much like that one song on the radio that you liked when you first heard it and now every station on the dial (or on satellite) is playing it every hour, it's gotten too much airplay and now you're just done and over it ... the 'Coronation' iris is like that song. It became a popular favorite, people passed it on to friends, family, co-workers, cousins of cousins, the post carrier... and to add to the issue, these things can grow rampant and take over a bed if you don't watch them like a hawk (at least, around here!) And it seems that too many plantings are 'monotonous'... nothing BUT 'Coronation'. Why? This iris pairs well with lots of other colors and cultivars. I love yellow with antique blues, with the bitoned 'Mexico' antique in russets and oranges, even with maroon/wine and yellow types. But no. It seems that whenever there's 'Coronation', it's ONLY 'Coronation'. Maybe 'Coronation' just bullied everyone else off the playground long ago. I don't know.

No offense to anyone who happens to love 'Coronation'. I was a fan at one time, but to me... it's a song that's been played out. There are much more spectacular yellow irises out there, and if someone likes antiques, there are still many fantastic antiques still to be found, especially in heirloom beds.

Sorry for the rant. I just got back from a walk and got 'Coronationed' out.

I feel the same about a certain historic hangdog violet bitone that seems to be ubiquitous in my state. It's everywhere, and I would not have it in my garden. My advice? If you consider it a weed and have tired of it, rip it out of your garden and use the space for something much prettier. There are so many pretty ones from which to choose!

Well, I had never heard of Coronation when I read your post. So, I looked it up. I assure you it won't be in my garden, should you ever take a stroll past my house. However, I am looking forward to, this season, seeing the first bloom of these yellow iris.

TexasStar said: This may be an unpopular subject, but I am sick of 'Coronation' iris. ... 'Coronationed' out.

I've never heard of it, after looking it up here in the database I can say it will never come near my garden lol

And I favor Going Dutch. Finally will be getting it in July. Woohoo!

Here is Aruba's picture of it:

Going Dutch: pretty!

I hadn't seen Coronation before, It's an historic for sure, and I'm surprised if it's that strong of a grower that I haven't seen it before.

Maybe it is not such a strong grower in zone 5 Tom?

I had to look it up too and I agree with Daisy, that if you don't like it - replace it with something you do like. There are plenty of pretty plants out there, including irises, so no need to spend time caring for something that does not bring you joy.

Ooh, yummy! Going Dutch looks like a lemon cream pie.

I feel a "let's suggest yellow iris" thread coming on. Isn't looking at pix of beautiful iris the most entertaining part of this forum?

I wish I had this yellow iris

DaisyDo said: My advice? If you consider it a weed and have tired of it, rip it out of your garden and use the space for something much prettier. There are so many pretty ones from which to choose!

I've been trying to get rid of it in some spots in my place but it truly IS like a freaking dandelion. If a bit of rhizome breaks off or gets missed in the process of digging it up... it will come right back with a vengeance! It had its day, and in its time it may have been the top of the pack. But now its time is up. Others can have it, or it will get ground up. Yes, there are many, many other beautiful yellow historics out there. I like historics, but not that one anymore. It's everywhere! I am now happy to pass on some of the other NICE classics to people so that they too can have the variety, and maybe also be inspired to reduce the 'Coronation' count. It may still be okay in small doses, or paired with something more interesting. But to me, it's like a mayonnaise sandwich on white bread when planted en masse... bland and uninteresting! But in fairness, I like mayonnaise-- but not all by itself. Put some "mustard" with it, some lunch meat, and now you have a decent sandwich. Plant some 'Jean Cayeux', maybe some 'Mexico' with that 'Coronation' and now you might have something. But sadly, I think 'Coronation' would just run the other kids out of the playground!

Now... that 'Going Dutch', on the other hand... that's a looker for sure! Simply beautiful! But for the simpler, more "streamlined" historic look, I like the look of 'Golden Majesty'. I think the color is better than 'Coronation', and I expect that it may not be as rampant here. Even the shape is nicer.

Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Mexico')


Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Jean Cayeux')

Contributor: MargieNY

TexasStar said: This may be an unpopular subject, but I am sick of 'Coronation' iris. Before I go off on a mild rant....It seems that whenever there's 'Coronation', it's ONLY 'Coronation'. Maybe 'Coronation' just bullied everyone else off the playground long ago. I don't know.

at the "...bullied everyone else off the playground...".

By all means, rant away! That means I'm not the only one ranting on this forum!

(And yes, that iris will never find a home in any garden of mine!)

I just yanked one of several big old clumps of it out of my "Study in Pink and Purple" bed today. One big gnarly, nasty clump of 'Coronation' is finally GONE. I palmed it off on some other poor sucker who thinks it's gorgeous. To each their own. Someone has to adopt the "ugly puppy", right?

And this little fella bloomed for the first time today. A little Border Bearded that was among my seedlings showed its cute face this morning. How funny that its a pretty yellow! 21-1/2 inches of sunshine yellow and white. This is a prettier yellow in my opinion than that confounded 'Coroner-ation'. Parents are 'Chasing Rainbows' x unknown orange TB... but the orange pollen parent is just BARELY tall enough to be called a TB so I'm not at all surprised that they threw a Border Bearded. Interesting feature-- upon first opening, the white on the falls has just a hint of the PALEST blue, which soon gives way to this ever so slightly shimmering pearly white. The yellow rim on the falls is more distinct and sharp than it appears in these pics. I just had my phone on me and snapped these 2 quick shots. I'll get the better camera and some nicer pictures tomorrow. Thinking of calling it 'Topo Chico'... which actually means 'Little Mole' in Spanish. (And yes, I do happen to love the sparking water by the same name, especially with a squeeze of fresh lemon!)

Here are a few yellows from my garden...

evelyninthegarden said: Here are a few yellows from my garden...

• Border Bearded Iris (Iris 'Little Mary Sunshine')
• Uploaded by evelyninthegarden

Wow, the color pattern on that one looks a LOT like my new little BB, slight renaming on the suggestion of a friend... 'Topo Chica'. The shape of mine is a bit different, with more slender, smoother falls and is coming in now at 22" but it's only a maiden bloomer, so it may just be shorter this first season. While this may also be just a difference in lighting and perspective, 'Topo Chica' also looks more golden on the shoulders. Otherwise, the two irises are in that same 'scheme' or pattern. Regardless, she's a much more interesting and attractive iris (they BOTH are) than that insipid 'Coronation'. 'Topo Chica' is also much more tidy in her growth! Hopefully she will remain "polite" and not become a garden bully like that rude 'Coroneration' (called that because I really ought to call the coroner on it, LOL!)

I am starting to feel a bit sorry for Coronation. I got it from Arlyn awhile back Tom, so surprised you don't have it too. It never grew into any wild clump for me, but added small splashes of yellow in historic form between the more frilly newcomers. I think it is a matter of what forms a person prefers in their garden.

Lestv said: I am starting to feel a bit sorry for Coronation. I got it from Arlyn awhile back Tom, so surprised you don't have it too. It never grew into any wild clump for me, but added small splashes of yellow in historic form between the more frilly newcomers. I think it is a matter of what forms a person prefers in their garden.

Well, part of my distaste for 'Coronation' is because I see way, way too much of it around here. It's as I said earlier about the song that you once liked, but that has just become way overplayed. And well, things and cultivars of things probably grow very differently in different places. Bluebonnets which thrive here in my neck of the woods probably wouldn't do very well elsewhere, for instance. And even some irises that pout for me in my beds might go on to thrive and even do a bit too well for my neighbor down the block, for example. Perhaps 'Coronation' just gets too happy here. If I didn't see so much of it, and it wasn't so (overly) vigorous in my garden, I'd feel much differently about it. Or perhaps not be "hatin' " on it... I do find it to be somewhat insipid in its color here, when other yellow irises seem to have better color. Again, that could simply be environment and soil and temperature. It's really just not one that I care for anymore. I was kind of okay with it when it was one of my first irises when I started my gardens here many years ago, but as I acquired others over the years, it just fell out of favor with me. Seeing it all around me, when there are so many other easy to grow options, didn't help. Guess I'm just tired of it. Now I have other historic irises in other colors, and maybe I'll keep just a tiny bit because it does add some contrast with the soft blue-lavender of 'Pierre Menard'. I like blue and yellow together, which I imagine that someone else here might find unimaginative. For me this year especially, I left it pretty much untouched as a small statement of support for Ukraine. But blue and yellow also has other significance to me. So maybe I won't get rid of ALL of it but keep a little in a giant pot with the blue 'Pierre Menard'. I will be pulling out the vast majority in the beds, though. I need the room for the newcomers. That doesn't mean that I'm not tired of seeing it every-single-where I go! BTW, I also not a huge fan of bubble ruffles or spoons or horns or other "novelties". My favorites are the historics and antiques and classic forms like 'Beverly Sills' and 'Titan's Glory' and 'Shipshape'. I like stately, regal, elegant. I'm not into lots of lace and ruffles and "freak shows". Sure, they're fun to look at in a catalog and in forums like this, but I don't think I'd care for that look in my garden very much.

It reminds me of the old phrase, "Familiarity breeds contempt." I suspect it's why I also scorn the daylily Stella D'Oro, because it is simply everywhere here. Yes it is so very floriferous over a long period, but what a mundane bloom!

Space Agers for sure are a matter of taste. I like some; I don't like them all (specifically I don't like "naked" horns. Fuzzy horns are okay, I guess, but I prefer spoons and flounces.)

I like ruffles, but not to the point where they start interfering with the opening of the bloom (whether in irises or in daylilies).

I don't like the really old antique irises (sorry), regardless of color or vigor. They just look too hangdog puppy sad (and are insufficiently fancy for my taste). There's enough grief in this world without also having sad flowers. Imho.

Stella ain't bad (though it's really a bit too warm for her here). But there are so many more beautiful daylilies to be had (and not all of them are rust buckets).

Marilyn, I somehow figured you'd weigh in on Stella, and glad you agree that "there are so many more beautiful daylilies to be had." And I had to laugh with your remark about "sad flowers."

Is Stella a rust bucket? I hadn't noticed, but then I don't have it.